After the banquet, Sun Ce asked Zhou Yu suspiciously: "Gongjin, Runan is the largest county in Yuzhou, adjacent to Jiangdong, I want to take it for a long time." ”

"This time I got the edict of the Son of Heaven, and I finally can justifiably seize Runan. Why did Gong Jin hint to me several times at the banquet that I should not promise the angel? ”

Zhou Yu replied: "Jiangdong and Jingzhou are feuds, if we send troops to attack Runan, how can Liu Biao sit idly by?" ”

"What's more, Yuan Benchu occupied the land of the four states and was powerful. There is even Cao Mengde who is friendly with him, and rashly raises troops to attack him, if the two are in alliance, what should be done? ”

"I expected that this must be because Chen Wenzhao was jealous of Yuan Benchu's strength, so he wanted to drive the wolf and devour the tiger, let me wait for him to weaken Yuan Benchu, so that he can sit and reap the benefits of the fish."

Sun Ce pondered for a long time and said, "Having said that, even if Yuan Benchu's power expanded, the land under his rule was too narrow and long. If we send troops to raid Runan, Yuan Benchu will definitely not be able to rescue. ”

"Wouldn't it be a pity to give up such a great opportunity?"

Sun Ce is not a complete martial artist, he sometimes looks at problems, but he goes straight to the essence.

As he said, the lands under Yuan Shao's rule, from north to south, were Youzhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou. These four state cities are completely lined up from north to south.

In this way, although Yuan Shao has an active and wide land, there are also many princes who need to be guarded against.

Gongsun Zan of Liaodong, Chen Xu of Guanzhong, Cao Cao of Xuzhou, Liu Bei of Yuzhou, Liu Biao of Jingzhou, Sun Ce of Yangzhou, and almost the entire princes of the Han Dynasty bordered Yuan Shao.

The territory is too long and narrow, and if you want to defend it tightly, you will definitely consume a lot of manpower and material resources.

With Yuan Shao's current strength, it is completely impossible to cover everything. If Sun Ce raided Runan with surprise troops, it was very likely that it would be decided in a battle.

I have to say that Sun Ce's strategic vision is very good, otherwise he would not have formed a friendship with Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu was silent for a long time, and did not rush to refute Sun Ce's words. After thinking about it carefully, he said: "If Yuan Benchu poured a large army to attack after taking Runan away, what should he do?" ”

Sun Ce said excitedly: "The soldiers are coming to block, and the water is coming to cover the earth, what are you afraid of?" ”

Looking at the high-spirited and sharp-edged Sun Ce, Zhou Yu was a little distracted for a while.

As if infected by Sun Ce's heroism, Zhou Yu also high-fived and said: "If my brother wants to take Runan, just go over." Jiangdong has me stationed, if Liu Biao dares to raise troops to attack, I will definitely let him have no return! ”

Sun Ce immediately laughed twice and said, "Brother Yu is here, what do I have to worry about?" ”

"Although I am not afraid of Yuan Benchu, I will not underestimate the enemy. Runan is Yuan Benchu's hometown, and it is the most important county town in Yuzhou, and its area occupies almost half of the entire Yuzhou. ”

"Runan County is so important, Yuan Benchu will definitely not give it up easily. On this expedition, I want to dispatch 30,000 soldiers and horses by water, what does Gong Jin think? ”

Zhou Yu replied: "Runan is lined with rivers and dense water networks, which is where the navy can come in handy. The elder brother will be able to transfer troops like this, and there will be no obstacles. ”

"The supply of troops is fine, and my brother still needs to send a general to accompany him."

Sun Ce asked, "Who does Gong Jin think can go with the army?" ”

Zhou Yu said: "General Cheng Pu has been on the battlefield with his uncle for a long time, and he is a battlefield general, so he can go with the army; Ziyi bravely crowned the three armies, and could command the infantry for his brother; Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin are proficient in water warfare and can lead the naval army for their elder brother. ”

Ce Shen thought so, and then replied to the Son of Heaven, preparing that he was willing to send troops to Runan. The angel was naturally overjoyed, and rushed back to Guanzhong in the starry night to inform Chen Xu of the news.

However, it was said that the third wave of angels sent by Wen Zhao arrived in Xuzhou with the edict of the Son of Heaven, and Cao Cao did not dare to slack off, and led his subordinates to go out of Guo to greet him.

After the Son of Heaven read out the edict and crowned Cao Cao as the pastor of Yanzhou, Cao Cao's smile suddenly froze on his face.

The current Cao Cao is not willing to clash with Yuan Shao. He just wanted to develop production first, and then try to do anything else after the famine had passed, Qingzhou and Xuzhou could be self-sufficient, and the people could live and work in peace and contentment.

However, this edict of the Son of Heaven put Cao Cao on the fire to bake.

If Cao Cao refuses to resign, not to mention that it will refute the face of the Son of Heaven, it will also have a great blow to the image of a loyal minister that he has painstakingly managed.

If he really postponed the position of Yanzhou pastor, in the eyes of the world, it would be equivalent to him Cao Cao being afraid of Yuan Shao.

Cao Cao finally got rid of Yuan Shao and was able to stand on his own.

If he leaves such an impression on the people of the world, it will make many talents who are ready to defect to him turn to Yuan Shao.

All this is not what Cao Cao wants to see.

The smile on his face froze for a moment, and Cao Cao said to the angel enthusiastically again: "The angel has come from afar, and Cao has prepared a banquet for the angel to catch the wind and wash the dust." ”

After the banquet, the angel privately informed Cao Cao that he hoped that the Son of Heaven wanted Cao Cao to capture Yanzhou and drive Yuan Shao back to Jizhou.

Cao Cao shirked the matter, and he needed to think about it in the long run, and did not reply to the angel on the spot. After settling the angels, Cao Cao convened his subordinates overnight.

"Chen Wenzhao pretended to be an angel and first named me the pastor of Yanzhou, and then asked me to send troops to attack Benchu and seize the entire Yanzhou. Chen Wenzhao's intentions can not be described as ruthless. ”

Xiahoudun immediately said: "What was Yuan Benchu afraid of? If the lord really took out the edict and sent troops to attack Yanzhou, he would occupy the righteousness. ”

"At that time, the lord sat in Qingzhou, Xuzhou, and Yanzhou, and his strength must have increased greatly, and he was no longer afraid of the rest of the princes."

Xun Yu said: "General Xiahou's words are wrong, this is Chen Wenzhao's plan of 'two tigers competing for food'. He was afraid that Yuan Benchu was powerful, so he wanted to weaken Yuan Benchu's strength through the lord. ”

"If we wait, if we really act in accordance with the content of the edict, Chen Wenzhao can just sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, this plan is not advisable."

Xun You also said: "Yes, Yuan Benchu's strength is strong, and he has a good relationship with the lord. Now that the princes are together, the combination of the lord and Yuan Benchu will benefit both sides, and divide will be harmful. ”

Cao Cao said without worry: "Having said that, Chen Wenzhao has the Son of Heaven, after all, he occupies the righteousness. If I refuse, there is no guarantee that he will not tell the world that I have no heaven. ”

The current situation is very different from history. In history, he coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes to occupy the righteous position. But now, it is Chen Xu who occupies the righteousness.

Cao Cao's past actions, whether it was assassinating Dong Zhuo alone; or gather the Kwantung princes to crusade against Dong Zhuo; or sent troops to attack Yuan Shu, who was the emperor.

All of the above gives people in the world a sense that he Cao Cao is a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty.

It is precisely this impression he gives to the people of the world that can recruit Xun You, Xun Yu, and Liu Ye, these wise and resourceful people who are loyal to the Han family.

Cao Cao, like Liu Bei, labeled himself loyal to the Han family.

This kind of labeling, sometimes though, can bring them great benefits. However, when Chen Xu ordered them in the name of the Son of Heaven, they had no way to refuse.

Chen Xu seized the benefits of the Son of Heaven, and it was only at this time that he began to emerge.

Cao Cao looked around at everyone and saw Guo Jia, who was still leisurely and complacent, his eyes immediately lit up, and he asked, "Feng Xiao, do you have a clever plan to teach me?" ”

Guo Jia smiled slightly and said, "If you want to break this situation, Yi Er." ”

Meng De was overjoyed, and hurriedly asked: "What is the best plan for Fengxiao, come quickly!" ”

Guo Jia said unhurriedly: "The lord can go to the Son of Heaven, and say that now there are years of drought, famine in Qingzhou and Xuzhou, and the army has no food, so it is impossible to go out at all." ”

"I hope that the imperial court can allocate a million stones of grain and grass to come, so that I can wait for the army to be exhausted and drive Yuan Benchu back to Jizhou."

Cao Cao thought about it for a while, couldn't help laughing, stroked his palm and said, "Fengxiao's plan is wonderful!" ”

I have to say that Guo Jia's strategy is really amazing. In this way, Chen Xu will definitely not really transfer a million stones of grain and grass over.

In this way, Cao Cao did not violate the edict of the imperial court, nor did he have to make enemies with Yuan Shao.

Xun Yu, Xun Yu and others couldn't help but nod secretly.

On the second day, Cao Cao saw the angel and said righteously: "Since Your Majesty has an order, you must do it if you manipulate your body to pieces." The matter of sending troops to Yanzhou is not a problem at all. ”

The angel was overjoyed, and immediately praised: "Cao Yanzhou is really a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty!" ”

Cao Cao was modest, changed his words, and said: "However, Qingzhou and Xuzhou have experienced many wars since the Yellow Turban Uprising. Now there are even more droughts for many years, famine is everywhere in the territory, and the people are prone to cannibalism. ”

"Yuan Shu was called emperor before, and I responded to Your Majesty's call to attack Yuan Shu, and I have already consumed all the grain and grass in the treasury."

"Although I have the intention to drive Yuan Benchu out of Yanzhou, there is a shortage of food in the territory, and the army cannot go out at all. I also ask the angel to play Your Majesty on my behalf, as long as I transfer one million stones of grain and grass, I will definitely drive Yuan Benchu out of Yanzhou! ”

Hearing Cao Cao's shameless words, the angel who was still smiling suddenly sank.

"Isn't Cao Yanzhou joking? You also know that now that there are years of drought and famine, you will ask for a million stone of grain and grass when you open your mouth, do you think this is possible? ”

Cao Cao immediately said in fear: "In front of the angels, how dare I speak falsely. It was really a famine in the territory, and there was no way to go on the expedition, so I had the cheekiness to ask the court for grain and grass. ”

The angel sneered twice and said, "You and Yuan Benchu colluded with each other, and if you want to disobey the emperor's orders, why do you have to be so coy?" ”

Cao Cao was 'shocked' and hurriedly said: "My loyal monarch's patriotic heart can be seen by the sky, how can an angel wronged me so much." ”

"If the angel can't believe me Cao Cao, you might as well go to the countryside with me to see if there is famine in Qingzhou and Xuzhou. If I deceive the angels with this, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed! ”

Cao Cao raised his right hand and pointed to the sky, his face full of grief and indignation.

But the angel had nothing to say, for it was true that there was famine everywhere, especially in the north.

Cao Cao grasped this, but it is understandable.